Film holding clip



Sept. 2, 1941. G. M. DYE

FILM HOLDING CLIP Filed 001:. '9, 1939 jndnz or LLVV Mfl/z Jito 771g Patented Sept. 2, 1941 PATENT OFFICE FILM HOLDING CLIP Glen M. Dye, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 9, 1939, Serial No. 298,550

1' Claim Cl. 24-259) This inventionrelates to a clip and while the clip may have various applications, it particularly'is designed for a clip to hold photographic roll films. Such films are held in position by clips at theends thereof and the films are usually;

' though not invariably, suspended in vertical position. It is the'mostcustomary practice to have a clip clamping the film adjacent the top thereof and another clip clamping'the film adjacent the "bottom thereof. The latter clip is usually weighted to hold the film taut in suspended position.

The films'are placed while supported by the clips in various treating solutions, such as the developing, fixing and washing solutions. After passing through these solutions they are suspended for drying. Air is often blown over the films while in drying position. 7

It is desirable to have a clip which will have small area engaging the film. If there is a flat surface engaging or closely adjacent the film water pockets are apt to be formed on the clip and these usually cause streaked drying of the films caused by water draining down on the film.

It is also desirable to have a very small area engaging the film so that all parts of the film can be reached by the drying air. The clip should be constructed so that air can circulate freely therethrough in all directions so as to engage the film. v

7 It has frequently happened' with clips or holders of the prior art having opposed jaws, that when the edge of the film isvpushed between or inserted between the jaws, theedge will fold over or be guided over into a fold; This is objectionable as it provided a portion of the film which .will collect water and moisture, causing spotted or streaked drying. Furthermore, the end of the film is not properly disposed. The films are usually placed in the clips in a dark room and the operation is done quickly. It is desirable, therefore, to have a structure of clip which will prevent the above objectionable occurrence.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a clip for holding photographic films which has a very small area engaging the film.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a clip so constructed that water pockets cannot form thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip constructed and arranged to have air circulate freely therethrough in all directions.

It is still further an object of the invention to prising jawportions Ill and II.

tions are supported by and carried by carrying the film will not fold over or be moved into bentover position when inserted between the jaws thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the clip embodying the present invention;

7 Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of said clip;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation as seen from the side opposite that seen in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating one function of the clip; and

Fig. '7 is a partial and sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing a film suspended in the clip.

Referring to the drawing, a clip is shown oom- These jaw porjaw H and thus forming the film engaging portion of jaw III. In the embodiment of the invention'illustrated, jaw l0 isformed of sheet metal bentinto' the described form. Jaw I0 has extending therethrough spaced holes We of considerable diameter so that only narrow portions I00. are left therebetween. These narrow portions Ifld have extending centrally therethrough holes 0c of very small diameter. 'It will be seen that 'the upper portion of jaw llJ slopes downwardly and that the lower portion of jaw l0 slopes downwardly and away from the film, which film F is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The jaw II has a vertical portion Nb and a portion llc which slopes somewhat downwardly and toward the film F. Portion ND is formed with spaced pointed teeth lld of comparatively narrow width, said teeth tapering toward their pointed portions and the points of said teeth being alined with the apertures llle of jaw [0. The points of teeth 1 Id enter the holes [0e when the clip is in normal position out of engagement with the film. The carrying portion Illa extends provide a clip so constructed that the edge of upwardly and inwardly and has an opening I0! Figs. 1 and 3.

therethrough for the greater part of its width, thus leaving only quite narrow portions Illg at the sides thereof. The said carrying portion as seen in Fig. 2 has a curved upper edge, the same being provided centrally with a tongue IIlh which extends through an opening Im in one side of loop I2 and is bent over and clamped to said side. Said carrying portion has an opening I09" therethrough and the lower portion of the side I2b of loop I2 has a tongue I extending through said opening. Carrying portion Ifla is offset opposite tongue I20 the thickness of the metal so that the outer surfaces of said carrying portion and tongue 12c are in the same plane. carrying portion IIa also extends upwardly and inwardly from portion I Ib of jaw I I and the same is formed inwardly with the side I2d'of loop I2. It will be noted that carryingportion I Iaextends jaws I0 and Hand carrying portions Illa and Na throughout the width of the jaws and that openings lllf, He and I00 communicate with this 1 space.

The sides of loop I2 are provided with alined openings I2e adjacent the top of said loop to;

permit a supporting member to be disposed in one or; both of said openings.

The narrow portions log are shown as having strengthening ribs Illi struck up therefrom, said ribs being arcuate in cross section.

The clip is normally in the position shown in When a film is to be held by said clip the operator merely presses the sides I20 and I'Zd of loop I2 together and this separates jaws I0 and H as shown in Fig. 6. The edge shown in Fig. 6 it is definitely stopped. It will notice guided to either side to form a bend, roll or fold. This formation of such a bend, .roll or fold has been a serious defect in clips of the prior art. With the present construction it is assured that the film will be in vertical and proper position. When the film is inserted as shown in Fig. 6, the operator releases the pres-' sureon the sides of loop I2 and the jaws ID and II move together in engagement with the film. The points of teeth IId engage one side of the film and hold the other side against the vertex portion Illb of jaw II] as shown in Fig. 7. Owing to the narrow portions Illd and the angular formation of jaw I0, the film is engaged only along very small portions thereof and substantially along only a line. The film is thus engaged at one side only at spaced points and at the other side only at a few small line portions. It will be seen that there is no place on the clip for water to accumulate or for water pockets to form. It will also be seen that air can circulate through the clip in all directions. The air can blow horizontally directly through the entire space I4 and the air can blow horizontally through openings I Ie and openings Ill). The air can also pass vertically through openings He and I0), through the openings I00 and through the openings between the teeth IId. Rapid and eflicient drying of the film is thus insured and there will be no Water accumulate on the clip to spot the film or to run down on the film and streak the same. It will be noted that the film is not engaged by any fiat surface. The clip is made of two pieces of metal as described for the convenience of assembly.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a very novel, simple and very efficient clip for holding photographic films. The device can be easily made and can be made very durable for long service. The same has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efiicient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changesmay be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicant's invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A clip for holding photographic films comprising opposing jaws resiliently movable toward each other to clamp said film, one jaw having formed thereon spaced pointed teeth with openings of appreciable width therebetween, the other jaw having portions alined with the points of said teeth and having openings of appreciable width between said portions, said jaws having carrying portions thereabove, one of which has an opening extending laterally therein for the greater portion of its width and extending closely adjacent to the jaw carried by said portion, the other of which has a central opening therethrough alined with said last mentioned opening and extending adjacent to the jaw carried by said other portion, said jaws having an open space extending laterally thereabove for their entire width with which all of said openings communicate, whereby air may circulate horizontally and vertically about said jaws and carrying portions.

GLEN M. DYE. 

